NAACP Metuchen Edison Area Branch President
PARAMUS, N.J. – The NAACP Metuchen Edison Area Branch has recognized Bergen Community College President Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., with its Booker T. Washington Education Award, celebrating his commitment to providing transformational educational opportunities for all members of the community.
The Metuchen Edison branch of the civil rights organization honored Friedman and other community leaders at its annual Freedom Fund Gala that took place October 12 in Somerset. Bergen NJ STARS program coordinator and NAACP Metuchen Edison first vice president Julia Gibson nominated Friedman for the award.
“President Eric M. Friedman received the Booker T. Washington Education Award for his visionary leadership and deep commitment to student success,” Gibson said. “He is an advocate for those he serves and works tirelessly to help students reach their full potential. His dedication to education reflects the very essence of Booker T. Washington’s legacy - empowering others through knowledge, perseverance and purpose.”
The NAACP award represents the latest in Friedman’s career, joining honors from organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society of two-year colleges, and the New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
“To be recognized by an organization that works toward eliminating discrimination and accelerating the education of people of color is deeply moving,” Friedman said at the event. “Community colleges transform lives in their communities regardless of race, nationality or socioeconomic status. It’s embedded in community college culture to care about everyone who walks through our doors.”
Friedman has served as Bergen’s president since January 2021. Driven by his signature “ethic of care,” Friedman has reshaped the College’s priorities by focusing on efforts that enhance belongingness, inclusivity and equity. Under Friedman, Bergen’s student enrollment has rebounded from pandemic-era challenges while maintaining the institution’s status as the top destination in New Jersey for associate degree graduates. Recognizing its commitment to continuous improvement and best practices, Bergen received a full reaffirmation of its accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education this summer - a reflection of Friedman’s leadership and preparation for the periodic evaluation.
Bergen’s eighth president earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Denver, a master’s degree in humanities and social thought from New York University and a Ph.D. in sociology from the New School for Social Research.
Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 14,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.
Photo caption: Reginald Johnson, Bergen President Eric M. Friedman and NAACP Metuchen Edison Area Branch First Vice President Julia R. Gibson.
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